Stille-Nacht-Museum Oberndorf
Museum of the town of Oberndorf on the origin and worldwide spread of "Silent Night! Holy Night!", next to the Silent Night Chapel.
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About the museum
At Christmas Mass on 24 December 1818, the assistant priest Joseph Mohr and the organist Franz Xaver Gruber sang the song "Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!" for the first time in Oberndorf's boatmen's church of St. Nikola. The church was later demolished; the Silent Night Chapel, consecrated in 1937, now stands in its place.
The municipality of Oberndorf presents the history of the song right at the place of its first performance: the museum occupies two floors of the old house next to the chapel in which Joseph Mohr lived during his time in Oberndorf. The first floor is about the life of the Salzach boatmen, for whom salt and other goods were the basis of their livelihood, and about Mohr's connection to them.
The second floor is devoted to the period of the song's creation, the evening of its first performance and its journey around the world – including its appropriation by political regimes and its significance as a message of peace. Multimedia stations, a karaoke station with many language versions and interactive features complement the exhibition. The museum courtyard is dedicated to the philosopher Leopold Kohr, who was born in Oberndorf, and the attic holds a room for workshops and school classes.
Highlights
- Joseph Mohr's living room
- Harmonium from the old house
- Life of the Oberndorf Salzach boatmen
- Karaoke station with versions of the song in many languages
- Historic photos of the old boatmen's settlement
- Silent Night Chapel right next door
Permanent exhibition
- Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! – ein Lied geht um die Welt – Two floors on the life of the Salzach boatmen, the first performance in 1818, and the spread and significance of the song to this day, with many media and hands-on stations.
- Founded
- 2016
- Operated by
- Stadtgemeinde Oberndorf bei Salzburg
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | €3.50Children's price for ages 6 to 13 |
| Visitors with disabilities | freeFree for people with disabilities |
| Groups (10+ people) | €4.50 per person |
| Families | –Families: adults €4.50 each, children €2.50 each |
| School classes | €2.50per person; kindergarten groups free |
Free admission once with the Salzburger Seenland Card.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Hands-on stations
Interactive stations on both floors invite children and adults to explore, solve puzzles and listen to stories; at the karaoke station you can sing along to the song in different versions.
Getting there & parking
By car
Free parking
Free visitor car park right next to Stille-Nacht-Platz (access via Schöffleutgasse); if it is full, there is a paid car park opposite Johnny's Disco.
From Austria take the B156 to the Oberndorf roundabout, then go down Salzburger Straße to the Gasthaus Bauernbräu and turn right into Schöffleutgasse. From Laufen (Bavaria) cross the Salzach bridge, turn left into Salzburger Straße by the church and turn left into Schöffleutgasse at the Bauernbräu.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
Museum shop with souvenirs, books and music related to "Silent Night" (also online).
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 40 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Group tours for up to 25 people via the Oberndorf tourist board (+43 6272 4422, office@stillenacht-oberndorf.com), €85 per tour plus admission; surcharge for a foreign-language tour €25. Larger groups are split into two tours. |
